By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Presidency has confirmed that the first National Convention of the National Dialogue process will proceed as planned on 15 August 2025.
The President met with the interim Preparatory Task Team last week, where divisions emerged over the state of readiness.
Some Legacy Foundations involved in the planning, including the Tutu, Mbeki, Tambo, Biko and Mbeki Foundations, have now stepped back from organising, but remain committed to the overall process.
The Presidency has also sought to clarify the reported cost of the National Dialogue.
While some reports put the cost at over R700 million, the Presidency says they are doing everything possible to minimise the cost by mobilising resources.
As a response to the call for collaboration, UNISA has offered to host the first National Convention and provide associated goods and services free of charge.
As it stands, venues have been secured for the plenary, two overflow venues with livestreaming, 10 breakaway venues, a dining area and work areas.
In addition, UNISA is providing facilities for an Operations Centre, which has been running over the past week, catering, ushers, AV services, printing of discussion documents, signage, conference bags, notepads, pens and WiFi.
The Presidency says the costs of the first Convention are being funded from the existing budgets of NEDLAC and the Presidency for secretariat support, communications and logistics.
According to the preparatory committee, this convention will start a months-long process of public dialogues in communities and sectors nationwide, leading to a second convention in 2026.
Briefing the media on Monday on the state of readiness for the National Convention, the committee’s chairperson, Boichoko Ditlhake, said they expect some 1,000 delegates to attend.
He added that so far, 755 individuals have been invited from over 30 sectors and over 200 organisations.
The remaining 245 spaces will be reserved for organisations that have asked to participate.
“In allocating spaces, efforts have been made to ensure sectoral diversity and representativity, special weighting for marginalised or historically underrepresented groups, and representation across all sectors of youth, women and LGBTQI+ individuals,” said Ditlhake.
The chairperson also addressed the calls for the postponement of the convention, saying there is no need for ‘unnecessary delays’.
This is after the now-withdrawn legacy foundations called for a postponement.
“We must move swiftly to hand over the process to civil society and citizen organisations that have a genuine interest in solving the challenges our country is facing. We must not allow any grouping to control a process that should truly belong to citizens and society in general,” said Ditlhake
He said overwhelming support and contributions from different stakeholders were received, which helped reduce the convention’s cost.
“Donations have been received for the National Dialogue digital platform. Other goods and services, such as the venue, screens for public viewing, and rail and road transport, are being provided at no cost.”
“The reduced costs associated with the hosting of the National Dialogue and the funding plan are done with the intention to reduce the burden on the fiscus.”
Ditlhake explained that the total budget for the National Dialogue will be developed as the Convention finalises the structure and form of the community dialogues.
Meanwhile the DA, and other critics slammed the proposed R700 million plus budget for the initiative, with labour federation Cosatu calling it “astonishing” and a “reckless error” that should be scrapped.
Cosatu said the idea, pushed by a few officials, was “imprudent and insensitive” amid deep public frustration, with workers already facing spending cuts on health, education, policing and home affairs services, as well as rising living costs and an economy crippled by unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Following the withdrawal of the foundations from the preparatory task team last week, a new convention organising committee, including representatives from civil society, National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the presidency, has taken over preparations.